Timer Variations In Browsers?

[terrycm]

I am experiencing different results with the timer function.

a simple

timer+=1,90000,,showarrowpano1

should result in a 90 second delay of my showarrowpano1 function

This results an actual time of 1:57 in FF or 117 seconds.
Any Ideas why?

[terrycm]

To make things even more confusing it results a time of 2:30 or 150 seconds in Internet Explorer. Has anyone else experienced this?

[uudu]

Sure. The timer is acting like it want and it's impossible to make very precise actions. Probably due to different power of computers.
Of course it is useful when you need to add some approximate delay to elements.

[allSaints]

Terry,

you can some info in this thread:
http://www.flashpanoramas.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2760

[terrycm]

Thank you both. It appears I am going to be unable to create a precise guided tour. I see real a benefit in solving this riddle and I hope we see a fix in the next release or possibly a plug-in that can address this. Imagine a guided tour with a narration that corresponds to what you are viewing. That is where I was going with this function anyway.

It was worth a shot anyhow, thank you again.
-Terry

[allSaints]

Well, an accurate external plugin timer wouldn't take very long to code...

[Darrell_360fusion]

There is a very good as3 timekeeper class that i have used in the past that will create a very accurate timer for you:
http://www.computus.org/journal/?p=22

[terrycm]

You will have to forgive my lack of coding chops. Would you be willing to share how you used the as3 timekeeper in a fpp project?

[Scott Witte]

It appears I am going to be unable to create a precise guided tour.... Imagine a guided tour with a narration that corresponds to what you are viewing.

I had to deal with exactly this for an upcoming tour. There is no perfect solution but there are several things you can do. If you want to see a preliminary example check out the Auto Quality demo page (http://www.tourdeforce360.com/plugins/autoquality.html).

1) Set your frameRate to 30 instead of the default 40. There can be a little more flicker but you might consider that acceptable. Slower computers won't have as much trouble keeping up so your timing is more likely to be acceptable.

(Note: In the above demo I kept the framerate at 40 and have run it on some pretty slow computers with little problem. Even with the actual framerate dragged to 20 the tour works essentially as expected. If anyone notices obvious issues I sure would appreciate hearing about it.)

2) Build a little leeway into your timing. Then if it takes a little longer to get to point A before starting the move to point B, no harm.

3) Either always put your tour into qualityStatic=low as you start a move then qualityStatic=best at the end, or use the Auto Quallity plugin (http://www.tourdeforce360.com/plugins/autoquality.html) to do it for you with the added benefit that it will keep quality at medium if the computer can handle it.

4) Check out Tommy's moviebox plugin. Use the soundtrack for the audio and quepoints to time your tour. Just hide the video.

Hope that helps.

[terrycm]

Hi Scott,
I actually purchased your plugin and while I liked it I got a kick back from the client. They would rather have terrible motion quality and a better looking image then deal with the "shimmer" effect of having it on a low setting and a nice smooth motion. Good idea though, I appreciate the suggestion.

I think I am going to put this one to bed for now. If a big project comes along I may just have someone paid to come up for a solution if we need an exact timer function.

[allSaints]

Terry,

I pieced together a small timer plugin that you can check out on my test page (http://wirestam.com/panos/Flash/panotimer/pttestx.html).

It keeps track of the internal clock by checking it 5 times a second, so it doesn't matter how slow (or fast) your CPU is.

Tommy

[terrycm]

Wow Tommy, I just ran a stop watch right aside your timer and it is spot on. This is perfect, when do you think you might release it?

-Terry

[allSaints]

Terry,

I'll try to zip it up as soon as I can - maybe tomorrow.

Tommy

[terrycm]

Brilliant, thank you.

[allSaints]

OK Terry - the plugin is uploaded to my server and got its own page here (http://wirestam.com/panos/Flash/plugins/panotimer.html).

You (and of course anyone else interested) are welcome to try it out.

Tommy

[uudu]

Thank you very much Tommy!

I see it as extremely important addition for FPP in creation of any kind of scheduled events. It was impossible to have certain rhythm and precision without.
Even during opening new pano by visitor, the first impression and rhythm of appearing elements can destroy right feeling. After all - it's a little bit like a visual music what we try to create.

uudu

[Astroman]

Perfect Tommy! That helps me out with problems with the global.timer!